The Sacramento Kings are reportedly interested in signing Jabari Parker when free agency begins. Here are three reasons why it makes sense for the Kings.
In a couple of days, free agency will begin which means we will find out where certain free agents decide to play next season.
Although this year’s free agents highlights guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul, the Sacramento Kings have close to no chance in acquiring those talents. Instead, the purple and white seem to be focusing on guys who may not be the elite few in the NBA, but can still contribute to a team.
Not too long ago, James Ham wrote an article listing wing players that the Kings could potentially sign in the upcoming weeks. One of the names was Milwaukee Bucks’ Jabari Parker who the Kings are in fact interested in when free agency starts.
What that being said, what kind of impact could Parker have if he were to sign with Sacramento? Enjoy this slideshow which showcases three reasons why I think the four-year pro can be a benefit to the Kings.
Fulfills a Need
The Kings are thin at the small forward spot as they have Iman Shumpert and Justin Jackson on their current roster. If the Kings want to improve their record next season, they need to have a legit starting small forward, and Parker has shown to be that guy during his tenure in Milwaukee.
In the 183 games Parker has appeared in the NBA, he has started 150 of them. During that span, Parker was an offensive asset for the Bucks who were a solid club in the Eastern Conference.
If the Kings were to lure Parker to their organization, he would definitely be their starting small forward on opening night and going forth.
Go-To Scorer
This is probably Parker’s best quality. Throughout his life, Parker has been a gifted scorer as he has shown to be a productive slasher and shooter when healthy. In his four seasons so far, Parker is averaging 15.3 points per contest while shooting 49% from the floor, 35.2% from beyond the arc, and 74.7% from the free-throw line.
Because Parker is a volume scorer who can create his own shot, he would be one of the top options for Sacramento’s offense if he were to come. The Kings only have a couple of guys who have proven to be consistent scorers so far. So adding a guy like Parker would help Sacramento immensely when they do face offensive slumps.
Part of the Movement
Although Parker has four seasons of professional basketball under his belt, he will only be 23-years old when the 2018-2019 season starts. Parker fits what the Kings are currently doing which is rebuilding around a large group of young talent. The good news is that Parker is already a proven asset, in my opinion, so he can be a guy who Kings fans know will produce on a daily basis.
Just picture the group of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Harry Giles, Marvin Bagley III, and others. Right now they are all young and inexperienced, but if they do reach their ceilings they will be a force for opponents to deal with. Add a healthy Parker to the mix and opponents will be stressing out when they know their match against the Kings is coming up.
Kings’ Chances at Landing Parker
The idea of the Kings landing Parker is exciting, but is there even a chance this becomes a reality? Well, it is out there that Sacramento is interested in Parker, and in my opinion, I think the interest is mutual.
Right now, the knock on Parker is whether he can stay healthy as he has already suffered two ACL tears in his knee. So if a team were to sign Parker to a long-term deal, there is the risk of him not being available because he is a health risk.
So would Parker be interested in playing for Sacramento? My answer would be yes. If the Kings were to give Parker an offer that is appealing, I think Parker would definitely consider Sacramento as a destination.
According to James Ham, Parker’s projected contract is a three-year deal that is worth around $36-42 million. If that is the case, I say the Kings should pull the trigger. In order for Sacramento to get back to relevancy, bold decisions have to be made by Vlade Divac and company. And in my mind, I think signing Parker as their long-term small forward is a good risk to take.
Kings fans, what are your thoughts on your team potentially signing Jabari Parker? To give us your opinions on the issue, feel free to comment on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.